Magnetic divider system

The present disclosure relates to systems for sub-dividing storage compartments for isolating and organizing articles therewithin.

Organized workspaces and storage areas are desirable in many professional and personal endeavors. Of course, requirements for organization vary with the size and material of which a space is constructed, and the size and number of the articles to be stored. Even with a given space and set of articles, such as a mechanic with hand tools and a tool chest, organizational needs and preferences may vary from person to person. Accordingly, a customizable organizational system which can accommodate a variety of storage spaces and articles is desirable.

The present disclosure provides a magnetic divider system for defining one or more sub-compartments to isolate and organize articles in the interior region of a compartment having a ferruginous surface. The magnetic divider system includes at least one rail member for defining one or more sub-compartments in the interior region of the compartment. The at least one rail member has a base portion and a distal portion. The base portion is capable of being juxtaposed to the ferruginous surface of the interior region of the compartment with the distal portion extending substantially normally away from the surface. The at least one rail member has a channel extending therethrough, the channel being proximate the base portion and spaced apart from the distal portion. The magnetic divider system further includes one or more attachment members for fixedly restraining the at least one rail member in the interior region of the compartment. The one or more attachment members comprise magnets and are disposed in the channel to magnetically attract the ferruginous surface of the interior region of the compartment and, in turn, restrainably affix the at least one rail member to the ferruginous surface of the interior region of the compartment. The at least one rail member defines at least one sub-compartment in the interior region of the compartment. Furthermore, the at least one rail member is capable of dividing the interior region of the compartment by itself as well as in cooperation with other like rail members. The at least one rail member is also capable of dividing the interior region of the compartment by engaging the ferruginous surface thereof and being free of engagement with all other surfaces thereof. Additionally, the at least one rail member is capable of being sized to a desired length, without pre-imposed modular limitations.

In some preferred embodiments, the magnetic divider system further comprises at least two of the rail members capable of being cooperatively configured to form one or more sub-compartments in the interior region of the compartment. The at least two rail members are fixedly restrained on the ferruginous surface of interior region of the compartment and arranged to intersect. The magnetic divider system can also comprise one or more cover fittings for further restraining the at least two rail members. The one or more cover fittings has a plan shape corresponding to an intersection of the at least two rail members and has a generally U-shaped cross-section complementary to the distal portions of the at least two rail members. The one or more cover fittings telescopically overlay the at least two rail members at the intersection and further secure the at least two rail members to each other.

In one preferred embodiment, the plan shape of the one or more cover fittings is an L-shape. The L-shape has a first cover segment and a second cover segment fixed at an ending of the first cover segment, with the first and second cover segments being substantially perpendicular to each other. Each of the first and second cover segments are capable of telescopically overlaying at least one of the rail members.

In another preferred embodiment, the plan shape of the one or more cover fittings is a T-shape. The T-shape has a first cover segment and a second cover segment fixed at a central portion of the first cover segment, with the first and second cover segments being substantially perpendicular to each other. Each of the first and second cover segments are capable of telescopically overlaying at least one of the rail members.

In yet other preferred embodiments, the plan shape of the one or more cover fittings is a cross-shape. The cross-shape has a first cover segment and a second cover segment fixed together at central portions thereof, with the first and second cover segments being substantially perpendicular to each other. Each of the first and second cover segments are capable of telescopically overlaying at least one of the rail members.

A preferred embodiment of the invention further calls for the plan shape of the one or more cover fittings in a Y-shape. The Y-shape has a first cover segment, a second cover segment, and a third cover segment fixed together at a junction. Each of the first, second, and third cover segments are capable of telescopically overlaying at least one of the rail members.

In a preferred embodiment, the one or more cover fittings include protrusions for restrainably engaging the rail members when telescopically overlaying the rail members. The protrusions extend inwardly from opposing positions of interior surfaces of the one or more cover fittings. Furthermore, the rail members include notches for receiving the protrusions. The notches are disposed at opposing positions in outer surfaces of the rail members. The protrusions and notches are capable of engaging and restraining the one or more cover fittings relative to the rail members when the one or more cover fittings telescopically overlays the rail members.

The channel of the at least one rail member preferably has a key-shaped cross-section which tapers in a direction from the distal portion toward the base portion. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the one or more attachment members have a key-shaped cross-section complementary to the key-shaped cross-section of the channel. In some embodiments, the channel bisects the base portion of the at least one rail member. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the channel is spaced apart from the base portion with the key-shaped cross-section of the channel extending wholly within the rail member. In the preferred embodiments, the one or more attachment members comprise permanent magnets.

In these embodiments also, the channel of at least one rail member extends continuously along the at least one rail member. The at least one rail member is capable of being sized to a desired length by a user, with the channel extending continuously over the desired length. In some embodiments, the distal portion of the at least one rail member has a rounded shape.

In a preferred embodiment, the compartment is a drawer having a ferruginous-surfaced drawer bottom. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the compartment is a metal drawer, such as a tool box drawer. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the compartment is a bed of a pick-up truck—or some other metal-bottom containment region.

The magnetic divider system further includes one or more end caps for covering an end surface of the at least one rail member. The one or more end caps have a plan shape corresponding to an length of the at least one rail member and have a generally U-shaped cross-section complementary to the distal portion of the at least one rail member. The one or more end caps telescopically overlay the at least one rail member and cover the end surface of the at least one rail member.

The present disclosure also provides a method of forming one or more sub-compartments to isolate and organize articles therewithin in the interior region of a compartment having a ferruginous surface. The method includes sizing at least one rail member to a desired length. The at least one rail member is capable of forming one or more sub-components in the interior region of the compartment. The at least one rail member has a base portion and a distal portion and also has a channel extending therethrough along the desired length. The channel is proximate the base portion and spaced apart from the distal portion. The method further includes positioning the at least one rail member in the interior region of the compartment with the base portion juxtaposed to the ferruginous surface of the interior region of the compartment with the distal portion of the at least one rail member extending substantially normally away from the ferruginous surface of the interior region of the compartment. The method further includes inserting one or more attachment members into the channel. The one or more attachment members comprise magnets, and are capable of magnetically attracting the ferruginous surface of the interior region of the compartment. The method also includes restrainably affixing the at least one rail member to the ferruginous surface of the interior region of the compartment with the one or more attachment members and forming at least one usable sub-compartment with the at least one rail member. The at least one rail member is capable of dividing the interior region of the compartment by itself as well as in cooperation with other rail members. The at least one rail member is also capable of dividing the interior region of the compartment by engaging the ferruginous surface thereof and being free of engagement with all other surfaces thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, the method further includes positioning at least two of the rail members with the base portions juxtaposed to the ferruginous surface of the interior region of the compartment and the distal portions extending substantially normally away from the ferruginous surface of the interior region of the compartment. In this embodiment, the method also includes intersecting the at least two rail members on the ferruginous surface of the interior region of the compartment and providing one or more cover fittings for further restraining the at least two rail members. The one or more cover fittings have a plan shape corresponding to an intersection of the at least two rail members and have a generally U-shaped cross-section complementary to the distal portions of the at least two rail members. The method also includes telescopically overlaying the one or more cover fittings on the intersection of the least two rail members and securing the at least two rail members to each other.

In some embodiments, the plan shape of the one or more cover fittings is an L-shape. The L-shape has a first cover segment and a second cover segment fixed at an ending of the first cover segment, with first and second cover segments being substantially perpendicular to each other. Each of the first and second cover segments are capable of telescopically overlaying at least one of the rail members.

In other embodiments, the plan shape of the one or more cover fittings is a T-shape. The T-shape having a first cover segment and a second cover segment fixed at a central portion of the first cover segment, with the first and second cover segments being substantially perpendicular to each other. Each of the first and second cover segments are capable of telescopically overlaying at least one of the rail members.

In yet other embodiments, the plan shape of the one or more cover fittings is a cross-shape. The cross-shape has a first cover segment and a second cover segment fixed together at central portions thereof, with the first and second cover segments being substantially perpendicular to each other. Each of the first and second cover segments are capable of telescopically overlaying at least one of the rail members.

In further embodiments, the plan shape of the one or more cover fittings is a Y-shape. The Y-shape has a first cover segment, a second cover segment, and a third cover segment fixed together at a junction. Each of the first, second, and third cover segments are capable of telescopically overlaying at least one of the rail members.

In one preferred embodiment, the method further includes restrainably engaging the one or more cover fittings with the at least two rail members when the one or more cover fittings telescopically overlays the at least two rail members. In this embodiment, the method also includes engaging protrusions of the one or more cover fittings with notches in the at least two rail members. The protrusions extend inwardly from opposing positions of interior surfaces of the one or more cover fittings, and the notches are disposed at opposing positions in outer surfaces of the at least two rail members.